CREWE and Nantwich's Mayor is to launch an appeal to help terminally ill children.

Mayor Cllr Terry Beard is supporting the Donna Louise Trust, a respite home for those children who are not expected to live beyond their teenage years.

Cllr Beard is holding a special evening next month to launch the appeal and has issued an invitation to any community groups who would like to come along and offer support.

The trust is named after Donna Louise Hackney, from Stoke-on-Trent, who suffered from cystic fibrosis and died at the age of 16.

It was established as a registered charity in 1999 and aims to provide respite and if necessary, terminal care.

The service is free of charge for people in South Cheshire and Staffordshire, meaning the Trust faces massive annual bills.

The Trust is also introducing a Community Nursing Team, which will operate across South Cheshire.

Cllr Beard said: "The building of this hospice is a major undertaking, but it is urgently needed if we are to provide support and comfort for children and their families at a real time of need."

Kate Gallagher, the Trust's fund-raiser, said: "The Trust hopes to create a safe, supportive and above all happy place where sick children, their well brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents can have time to rest and relax, knowing that they are cared for by a skilled and professional team of carers."

The hospice needs £5,000,000 to cover the costs of building and operating for the first year and £3.5 million of this has already been raised.

"It would be nice to see people from local community groups attending the launch evening. Those who would like to attend are welcome to contact me for an invitation," Kate added.